Janice Guice
As a wife and mother of two, Janice Guice decided to become a speech language pathologist because of personal experience with significant medical events surrounding one of her own children. That circumstance demonstrated the devastation that comes when a human's ability to communicate is disrupted or fails to develop. From that experience, Janice grew to understand that "the world is both defined by and experienced through communication." It quickly became evident that impaired communication would impact academic, social and ultimately professional success.

Mrs. Guice returned to school at Eastern Michigan University to study Speech Language Pathology. There she completed her Bachelors of Science in Speech Language Impaired, including a minor in Elementary Education, as well as, her Masters of Arts, completing both degrees with the honor of Summa Cum Laude. After the completion of her Masters Degree, she worked in the public schools, gained extensive experience in child development and academic curriculum, as well as, the diagnosis and treatment of a vast variety of communication impairments and disabilities. Her work has focused on the opportunity to serve children and their families as they seek to develop, restore or augment their ability to communicate in a variety of settings critical to a positive quality of life. In 2003 these experiences led her to open her own speech language pathology private practice, Essential Communication, Inc.

Mrs. Guice is nationally certified as a Speech Language Pathologist, licensed as the same in Georgia and holds multiple teaching certificates in Georgia. She has presented research at the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) Convention, received ASHA’s ACE award (Award for Continuing Education) and nominated two times by her peers for Teacher of the Year.  Mrs. Guice has completed training in Lindamood-Bell’s Learning Processes, including Seeing Stars®, LIPs® and Visualizing and Verbalizing® approach for improving reading comprehension.

Her work with families with children on the autism spectrum has been greatly enriched by her completion of the process to become a RDI® Program Certified Consultant. She was the first RDI® Program Certified Consultant in the state of Georgia. Additionally, in 2006 Mrs. Guice was a contributing author to My Baby Can Dance, Stories of Autism, Asperger’s and Success through the Relationship Development Intervention (RDI®) Program.

Rebekah Stroud
As both a professional and parent, Rebekah is dedicated to serving children and their families. She has a counseling background in clinical and educational settings. As a parent of a child with autism, Ms. Stroud pursued the most effective interventions for her child and discovered RDI® in 2003. It was the positive, systematic and relational approach that she found to be the right fit for her family. Additionally, Rebekah pursued RDI® professionally to assist other families in their pursuit for a greater quality of life for their child with autism.  

In 1996, Ms. Stroud completed a Bachelors of Arts degree from Northern Illinois University with a major in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. As a part of an interdisciplinary team, Ms. Stroud gained clinical experience assessing, referring and treating children and adults in a psychiatric hospital environment.   

In 2004, Rebekah finished a Masters of Science in Counseling degree program at Concordia University Wisconsin. Ms. Stroud has implemented individual and small group counseling, as well as, leading school wide guidance programs at the elementary level.   

Ms. Stroud is a certified RDI® Program Consultant and a certified School Counselor in state of Georgia.  

Lisa Cheyette
Lisa Cheyette, Ph.D. has practiced as a licensed clinical psychologist in Georgia since 1995.  She received a Bachelor of Arts with Highest Honors from McGill University in Montreal, a Masters in Counseling from Northeastern University in Boston, and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from CSPP-San Diego.  She has worked extensively with children, teens, and adults in both inpatient and outpatient settings. As a psychotherapist, Dr. Cheyette’s work has focused on helping people enrich their relationships.

In 1997, Dr. Cheyette’s child was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.  This sparked her desire to learn as much as possible about autism spectrum disorders and the treatment of the disorder. Although Dr. Cheyette continues to see people with a variety of issues, her practice currently includes a number of children, teens, and adults with autism spectrum disorders, including PDD-NOS, Asperger’s Syndrome, and Autism. In addition she consults with families who have children or other family members with autism spectrum disorders. 

In September 2006, Dr. Cheyette began her training in RDI® at the Connections Center in Houston  and became a RDI® Certified Consultant in February 2008.  As a family centered treatment model focused on helping individuals with autism develop meaningful relationships, RDI® is well matched with Dr. Cheyette’s ongoing clinical work.   She is excited about having the opportunity to collaborate with the other therapists at Essential Communication.

Colleen Chambers
Mrs. Chambers studied Speech Language Pathology at Bowling Green State University in northwest Ohio. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Communication Disorders and Masters of Science in Speech Language Pathology. The intensive program and variety of clinical experiences along with the supportive faculty proved to be comprehensive preparation for a career in the field of speech language pathology.  

Upon earning her Masters degree and the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC), Mrs. Chambers spent two years in a geriatric setting working as part of an interdisciplinary team to rehabilitate communication skills of individuals recovering from stroke and brain injury. Although working with this population proved to be rewarding she recognized that her strengths were with the pediatric population. For the past 8 years she has worked in pediatric settings including community clinics and public schools. During this time she has had the opportunity to provide diagnostic and therapeutic services to children with speech and language impairments related to a variety of developmental disabilities. Additionally, her time in the public school system has afforded her the opportunity to address children's speech and language needs as they relate to academic curriculum. 

Mrs. Chambers currently holds national certification in speech language pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) as well as current licensure and teaching certification in the state of Georgia. She was a recipient of the ASHA Award for Continuing Education (ACE). She was selected as Teacher of the Year for her elementary school in 2004.